RCA 4-Device Big-Button Remote Control

The holy grail .... one remote to control them all!

Highlights of our new remote are:

• Bigger and fewer buttons
• Backlight button
• No system power cycle button (i.e. turn everything on/off at the same time)
• Never served a purpose other than mess everything up
• Controls our TV (Vizio), cable (Samsung), Blu-ray (Sony) and Roku
• Only $14

The AUDIO-SB button had to be reprogrammed to control the Roku, which the instructions explain how to do.  Then we had to figure out which buttons do the special Roku features.  They are:

• INFO_OPTIONS is the Roku Asterisk button
• Both MENU and GUIDE+HOME map to the Roku Home button
• GO BACK maps to the Roku big Left Arrow button

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CXDIPVS

Airport Mailers

You've checked in, got your boarding pass and are proceeding through airport security only to find you've left your favorite pocket knife (or any other prohibited item) in your carry-on bag.  Your choices are not necessarily limited to forfeiting the item or missing your plane.  A better option is to mail the item to yourself (or a friend) using Airport Mailers, a service at the twenty-two airports listed below.  Just pick up one of their 6" x 9" plastic pouches and follow the directions to complete the payment and shipping form.

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Akron,  Boston, Charlotte, Charlottesville, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth,  Dallas/Love,  Denver, El Paso, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Pensacola, Rochester, Raleigh Durham, Reno/Tahoe, San Francisco, San Jose, Oklahoma City
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http://www.airportmailers.com

Perfect Filet Mignon

When you splurge for Filet Mignon, the last thing you want to do is cook it too little or (gasp!) too much.  This recipe is simple and straight-forward, just follow the instructions to the letter.  That includes two of the most important cooking tips we repeatedly hear on The Kitchen.  First, set the meat out until is reaches room temperature.  You simply can't expect to get even cooking when the middle of the meat starts out cold.  Second, and much harder to do because as humans we just have to fiddle, is leave the meat alone when it's cooking.  Just put the utensil down and step away. 

https://www.floatingkitchen.net/how-to-cook-the-perfect-filet-mignon/

Calling Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos islands are directly east of Cuba and north of Hispaniola (i.e. Dominican Republic and Haiti) and the site of our upcoming summer vacation.  In setting up some fun activities, I was asked the cost to make phone calls from the U.S. to the islands. 

Calling from our Verizon phones is almost two dollars a minute, but if I use my Google Voice/Hangouts app, the cost is reduced to no more than a quarter per minute, as the screenshots taken from their respective websites below demonstrate.  If you have any kind of large bill for international or long-distance calling, checkout this Google Voice link.

https://voice.google.com

Verizon pricing 😱

Google Voice pricing😊

Downasaur

Google Chrome users will see the message below when their internet connectivity dies.  The blocky animal in the shape of a dinosaur is called a downasaur.  Perhaps this will help your trivia game some day and give Google at least some credit for a sense of humor.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=downasaur

Progressive Web Apps

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a hybrid between a website and a mobile application, and seeks to minimize the issues inherent with either pure approach.  A PWA can be installed (no app store required), improving performance.  If that option is available, you will see an option similar to the highlighted "Install Pinterest..." in the first screen shot.  A PWA runs in its own window, providing a cleaner interface, and some apps (e.g. Google's image reducing Squoosh) will run totally without an Internet connection. 

https://developers.google.com/web/progressive-web-apps

Cages

A couple weeks ago I posted on our newly planted Lavender Veranda knockout roses and they are doing beautifully (pun intended), but I had to build these cages to keep the rabbits from gnawing them to the ground.  Little bas**rds love any kind of new growth, even if it has thorns.  So we'll have to enjoy the muted view until they are fully established and not succulent enough for the bunnies.

Asparagus Wrapped In Prosciutto, Cheese And Puff Pastry

All you do is spread 6 tablespoons of soft garlic and herb cheese across two sheets (one package) of thawed puff pastry, top with 8 slices of prosciutto and cut into 30 strips.  Twist each strip, as shown below, meat side in, around a trimmed asparagus spear and bake seam down at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.  Fancy, colorful and delicious!

Remote Desktop Web

Google has extended their Chrome Remote Desktop (CRD) with a web browser version so you can access your own systems or help out family and friends.  The target system still needs the CRD app installed, but you only need a web browser.  The screenshot below is my Acer Chromebook laptop accessing my home office Mac Mini as I began to write this post.  This link can help you get started.

https://remotedesktop.google.com/

Pay Less Liquor Sale

During a recent trip to a Pay Less grocery store in Muncie, Indiana to grab a couple bottles of Buffalo Trace bourbon (wish they did that in Ohio), we stumbled upon a half-off sale on to-be-discontinued items such as the handle of Woodford Reserve bourbon and fifths of Patron Tequila and Sexton Irish Whiskey you see below.  Stunned, but not too stunned, to snatch up these incredible bargains.

Shout out to Pat D for the trip to Pay Less!